Introduction of the flora, life form and chorology of Ghamsar protected area in Isfahan province

Each region's plants are as a result of communities' reactions to environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to introduce floristic list, life forms and endangered species of Ghamsar protected area. This region covers about 36700 hactars and lies in the southwest part of Kashan. The results showed that 576 plant species existed in the region belonging to 80 families and 355 genera. A total of 355 genera, 50 genera (8.7 %) and 69 species (11.9 %) belong to monocotyledons order and 299 genera (51.9 %) and 500 species (86.8 %) belongs to dicotyledons order. The families with high number of species are including, Compositae (76 species), Labiata and Graminae (Each with 50 species), Fabaceae (47 species), Cruciferae(37 species), Umbelliferae (35 species) and Caryophyllaceae (28 species) respectively. The geographic distribution of plants indicated, the most geographical distribution is related to Iranian-Turanian vegetation area with 381 species (66.1 %) and Iranian-Turanian / Europea-Siberia / Mediterranean vegetation area with 33 species (5.7 %) respectively. According to Raunkiaer’s life form, species followed as: 32.2% hemicryptophytes (186 species), 31.96% therophytes (184 species). Threatened species included 33 totally belonging to Irano-Turanian. Among which them the endangered class, vulnerable, lower risk and data deficient were 2, 3, 26 and 2 species respectively.